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Buckner Foster Families, Advocates Recognized by Congress as Angels in Adoption™

DALLAS, Texas – Four Buckner families were recognized as 2011 Angels in Adoption for their outstanding advocacy for foster care and adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, D.C. at an awards ceremony and gala Oct. 5.

Rep. Mac Thornberry selected Amarillo residents Tim and December Barcroft; Rep. Pete Sessions selected Dallas residents Karen and Bryan Perry; Rep. Louie Gohmert selected Longview residents Kara and Locke Curfman; and Rep. Mike Conaway selected Midland resident Robert Ewing for the award.

Each family was nominated by Buckner Children and Family Services and was honored alongside 150 Angels at the national event. The Angels in Adoption program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad.

For the past two years, Tim and December Barcroft of Amarillo, Texas, have selflessly fostered three sisters and will soon adopt the girls as part of their forever family.

“Tim and December have so much patience with these children and take such good care of them,” said Brittany Porter, Buckner foster care case manager. “They have not once, despite all of the obstacles they have faced, faltered in their love. They put the children first always.”

Karen and Bryan Perry of Dallas were nominated because of their devotion to the orphans of Guatemala. In the past seven years, Karen has made more than 30 trips to visit the children who call her ‘Mamita Karen,’ and the Perrys support has fueled Buckner’s growth to serve almost 14,000 children each year in that country.

“Orphans and vulnerable children have no greater advocate than the Perry family,” said Albert Reyes, president of Buckner International. “The number of children Karen and Bryan have served cannot be counted. They not only impacted the lives of the many children they have served through their time and resources, but they have also uplifted countless families through their support of the adoption process.”

Kara and Locke Curfman of Longview, Texas, have selflessly fostered children of all ages for more than two years, many with significant special needs, and they have even adopted two children.

“The Curfmans are a strong voice and dedicated advocates for children who have been victimized by abuse and neglect,” said Debbie Sceroler, foster care director for Buckner Children and Family Services in Longview. “They take every opportunity to encourage and educate the community about the critical need for children to have safe, nurturing foster families and forever families through adoption.”

Midland resident Robert Ewing, a single father to six adopted children and foster parent to one, has not allowed any obstacles to come between him and his love for his children.

“Robert is an advocate by example,” said De’An Davis, foster care supervisor for Buckner Children and Family Services in Midland. “His love of children and desire to provide this ministry for children is evident every day. We were honored to nominate Robert for his humility, sacrifice and unconditional love.”

In addition to the more than 150 local Angels from around the country, several “National Angels” alsowill be recognized at the ceremony and gala for their dedication and commitment nationally and internationally to child welfare on a grand scale. This year’s National Angels are Academy Award nominated actor and screenwriter Nia Vardalos, NFL Linebacker Scott Fujita, and the Emmy-nominated television program Freddie Mac’s Wednesday’s Child. Former National Angels include First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Muhammad Ali, the late Dave Thomas, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bruce Willis, Alonzo Mourning, Rhea Perlman and Kristin Chenoweth.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes through adoption. CCAI’s goal is the elimination of the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.

The Angels in Adoption™ program was established in 1999 as a Congressional press conference to honor outstanding individuals. Since then, the program has developed into a yearlong public awareness campaign culminating in an extraordinary awards Gala and celebration in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.angelsinadoption.org.
 

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